Great Thread! I love lever action rifles and the 30-30 cartridge! On my first deer hunt I carried a "loaner" Model 94 Winchester 26 inch octagon barreled, iron sighted rifle in 32 Special. Later years I bought a Ruger 77 in 308 win and it became my only big game rifle for years. Then about ten years ago I "rediscovered" the lever actions (in the Marlin 336 form). Up until about 4 years ago I had 7 Marlins (four in 30-30, one in 35 Rem, one in.357mag, and one 22cal). I gave a 1950s era Model 336RC 30-30 to my son, and sold a Marlin 336CS to a fella from Bend Oregon. I still have two 30-30s; a Model 336 "Texan" and a Glenfield (Remington made) Model 30. The Glenfield was the most accurate of my 30-30s which I contribute to the fact it had an end cap on the forearm; vice a barrel band like my other Model 336s rifles. IMHO the barrel band can at times influence the vibration harmonics of the barrel and thus impact accuracy.
I sometimes carry the Marlin 336 35 Rem with 200 gain Rem Corelocks for elk when I am in thick timber and cover (like the thick rainforest terrain found on the coastal side of the Cascades).
Lever guns in thick cover offer the very best in quick handling, with quick follow up shots in thick cover. I go to my bolt guns (308, 8 Mauser, and 7x57 Mauser) for big game over 200 yards, especially when hunting the more open terrain.
Got to love the 30-30 ---- the all time caliber associated with deer hunting in the USA!
At age 79 I am still a kid at heart, and the Lever Action 30-30 is my "grown up's" BB gun!
CJ
Last edited by CascadeJinx; 07/15/19. Reason: typo
